5 Questions with designer Michelle Yu
SINGAPORE — Here’s a festival you don’t see very often: The first Singapore T-Shirt Festival, organised by Legendary Social Tees, will be showcasing T-shirt designs by various Singaporean artists. And yes, you can purchase T-shirts from the featured designers.
SINGAPORE — Here’s a festival you don’t see very often: The first Singapore T-Shirt Festival, organised by Legendary Social Tees, will be showcasing T-shirt designs by various Singaporean artists. And yes, you can purchase T-shirts from the featured designers.
For Michelle Yu, a designer who creates artisanal stationary and products for online art store The Gentlemen’s Press, this festival is a new experience. Yu said it was a breath of fresh air to be able to do something different from printing; although she added that her art, no matter what she did, was inspired by her own personal style.
“But only to a certain extent. Usually, I will simply go with black and white, but I added some blobs of colour to this (T-shirt) piece,” she said.
Her dream project would be to collaborate with Australian musician Nick Cave, who is best known for his moody, atmospheric music.
“It will be interesting to do a series of drawings based on interpretations of his music,” she explained.
Q: Is it different designing prints for T-shirts?
A: It’s much more flexible to design for T-shirts as compared to anything (involving) letterpress. Working with almost no restrictions, I can stretch the level of intricacy and number of colours in any way I like; whereas for letterpress, I have to think about the number of colours or whether the lines are too fine to be printed ... but then of course they produce very different looks.
Q: Do you wear a lot of T-shirts? What’s your favourite?
A: Yes, T-shirts are a necessity in my wardrobe. I don’t really have a favourite style, but I do like oversized tees (because) they are just incredibly comfortable.
Q: What does your daily outfit normally consist of?
A: Usually a basic tee paired with a maxi-shirt. Shoes will either be Vans or boots.
Q: Which item do you think perfects the outfit?
A: The maxi-skirt, because it’s long but not a hindrance — and it goes well with most tops and shoes!
Q: Could you recommend a place for our readers to check out quirky fashion/design items?
A: (laughs) I’m probably not the best person to give such suggestions, as I usually stick to MUJI — simple and comfortable. Tina Villareal
The Singapore T-shirt Festival will run till July 29 at the National Design Centre.